Poor Sleep Linked To Obesity, Diabetes Risk

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on April 12, 2012 - 6:10am

New research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston found not getting enough sleep or having disrupted sleep leads to an increased risk of diabetes. The study followed 21 participants for six weeks. For the first three weeks, they were told to spend 10 hours a night in bed. For the next three weeks, they moved into suites inside the laboratory and had their sleep disrupted, only getting about five hours every 28 hours. The data revealed that, during the experiment, participants experienced a significant drop in pancreatic insulin secretion and had increased glucose levels after eating. They also experienced an 8.0 percent drop in their resting metabolic rate, which is linked to weight gain. The findings suggest that poor sleep or not getting enough sleep can lead to obesity and an increased diabetes risk. More here.